New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-31
TIE RISS4NE INDICTMENT

AN IMPRISONED PLEA IN COURr-GENERAL DARN
ENMITY.
The attempt to obtain the dismissal on TUESDAY vi
the indictment found in 1854 against William hssane
has recalled host OF "reminiscences OF kissane VINO
was known to the police and criminal court oc'nS vi
thirty wears ago az OF the most noted cnais Vi
that day John Sparks the veteran clerk OF the oeh
era Sessions who has been connected win tue co"'
for nearly forty years. remembers INSANE wen.
memorable scene occurred when kissane wa TAKEN
before Recorder llon for sentence hiSsanc anu ms
companion Lyman Loe were eT II cir ieraeres
The Recorder had made up b's nina 10 sem'cnco ms
sane to five years in the State Pria1n Ine prisoner
was called to the bar una the usua ioi ""' 1"
What have you to say why Judgment should not be
pronounced against you according TO Jaw
Kssane was then young; lie had received gooa
education and was remarkably bright. lie rose ana
bcpan an imprisoned address to the Recorder nc
told of his careful training at home sad thaJ ne na
mon coming to this city and had been concerned in
the commission OF OF these acts He said that it
was his first crime and that he would never DC guty
~ another lie spoke so ieeliDgy that his hearers
were convinced OF his sincerity and the Recorder
changed his purpose and sentenced hssnnc 10 ihpiir
opment for only two gears and six months.
General Francis Darr, who says that nc recognizes
Kissane in the person of q wcll-known ana wealthy
resident of San Francisco, was well known 10 new
York until few years ago, when nc went 10 JAIL
fornia He has written several letters to New-fork in
reference to the matter lie remembers William his
because
lived in the same town Cincinnati Their fathers
were engaged in the same busness-the preparation %,
n kind of oil. Kis-ane was known as rather wild
Young man. The factory owned by the elder barr was
burned ole night and there little insurance on
il the loss was great the Darr iany wee imam
cially ruined and did not recover for some time Young
Kissane was the building shortly before 1t
was burned and from the rivalry bet ween the families
and her far Ia no suspected OF setting the place
on fire. and General Darr has retained an enn'ty based
on that suspicion General Darr Is graduate OF west
Point and served in the War OF the Rebellion lie has
been q civil engineer aud has also been engaged IN
business similar TO that OF his father.
The Chemical National Bank is one OF the banks
which lost several thousand dollars by the operations
of the gang of iorgers OF which kissane and Lyman
Cole we're the most noted members. The officers OF
the bank have received letters from General
Darr and they know the name under which, II IA
alleged Kissane ia now living in San Francisco. One
of the officers OF the bank Mr. Parsons was the paying
teller in 1854 and he paid the forged check by which
the bank was deiraudcd. lie has said That nc would
know Kissane anywhere and under any disguise.
Neither Mr. Parsons nor the other officers Of the bank
we've willing 10 give the under which kissane
according TO the statements OF General Darr Is now
living.
Among the offences in which il was believed ty some
persons many years ago that kssane had a part was
The burning Of the steamer Martha Washington on the
Ohio River. The steamer loaded with boxes that
were represented containing valuable goods, but
vhich really contained little that OF value. The
eteanier and cargo were insured Tor large amount
and after the steamer had begun ITS trip fire broke
cut Many passengers lost their lives End the affair
caused great excitement, especially when II was be-
lieved that the deliberately set on file.